Here’s Why It Is So Difficult to Find Money for Health Overhaul Effort

If you want to know why it’s been so hard for President Barack Obama and the Democrats to pay for their expansion of health insurance coverage, consider the plight of the Senate Finance Committee negotiators.

With something like $300 billion to raise, the bipartisan Gang Of Six is looking for any little pot of money that won’t raise a fuss, the man behind the tree from the famous Russell Long quote, “don’t tax you, don’t tax me, tax the fellow behind the tree.” They thought they found about $20 billion by capping the amount businesses could allow employees to put into tax-free flexible spending accounts.

The result: the formation of a new group, Save Flexible Spending Plans, to beat back even that. Business groups specializing in compensation are striking back. The man behind the tree must be heard.

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